Nik Aziz chides Umno for playing up two words – bumiputera and Allah
(Suara keADILan) – Even as the Malay-based Umno rushed to attack the multi-racial DAP over the term bumiputera, the Islamic-based PAS has weighed in at the latter’s side – stating that it too disliked the word for its racist overtones and abuse that has led other races in the country to be deprived of government aid.
“I don’t like the use of the word bumiputera. What I like is the use of the word poor, for all races,” said Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the revered spiritual adviser of PAS. “”In an election, other races are allowed to cast one vote, so are the bumiputera.
DAP leader Boo Cheng Huat had allegedly compared the word bumiputera to the apartheid separatist system in South Africa.
Gearing up for their internal party polls later this month, Umno leaders had immediately seized on Boo’s comments to stir up Malay sentiments and create support for themselves.
Said Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno vice-president: “I don’t know why, he as an elected assemblyman, would want to make such a statement when it could bring about racial tensions. It just shows DAP’s narrow political agenda, which does not take into account the country’s political situation and historical events.
“It is clear that Boo does not understand our history and Malaysia’s position in comparison to other countries.”
Playing up the 3 ‘R’s – race, religion and Rulers
Bumiputera refers mainly to the Malays, who are the country’s largest ethnic group, and the indigenous people – the non-Malay bumiputera. They are accorded special rights by the government in all key ares, such as education and investment.
Of late, Umno has been playing the racial card and masking their political agenda behind the Rulers and religion in a bid to revive its flagging popularity within the Malay community.
The once-mighty party has been suffering a steady loss of support to political rivals such as PAS and KeADILan, especially in the aftermath of the March 2008 general election where the Umno-led BN coalition stumbled to its worst electoral performance.
Said Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim: “We are facing an emotional propaganda — three Rs — race, religion and royalty.
“These three emotive issues have developed into the Malay psychology. If the people are not shown the real picture on these issues they will be fooled with arguments on the symbols of race, religion and royalty, which will bring their way of thinking back into the feudal era.”
“The issue of the Malay Rulers must be handled with moderation. We must be diplomatic but firm. It has to reflect mainstream thoughts and not just rhetoric.”
A clear example has been the flip-flop over the use of the word ‘Allah’, which the Home Ministry has banned non-Muslims from using.
Yet Nik Aziz, known and respected for his piety, said non-Muslims should be allowed to use the word as there is a verse in the Quran which quotes the non-Muslims of Mecca calling their god ‘Allah’.
“But, it is up to the Umno federal government to decide. I do not want to interfere in this,” he gently chided.
